Frank krai-ie



Nu. 6l3,283. Patented Nov. I, I898. W. F. KRAHE.

SPOKE GRIP.

(Application filed Feb. 18, 1898.)

('No Model.)

WITNESSES: FNVENTOR ATTORNEYS m5 NORRIS runs 00'. vnomuma, WASHINGTON,|:|v c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER FRANK KRAHE, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

SPOKE-G RIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,283, dated November1, 1898. Application filed February 18, 1898. Serial No. 670,790. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I,WALTEE FRANK KRAHE, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, (Brooklyn',) in the county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSpoke-Grips, of which the following is a full and completespecification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to spoke grips or wrenches for tightening ormanipulating the spokesof a bicycle-wheel; and the object is to providea ratchet spoke-grip that is particularly adapted for use in connectionwith bicycle-wheels, in which the operating-space is limited, and whichwill be simple in construction, effective in operation, and which can beoperated in a very limited space.

The invention consists of a spoke-wrench constructed substantially ashereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate partsof myimprovement are designated by the same letters of reference ineachof the Views, and in which Figure 1 represents a side view of theimproved spoke-grip. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the upper plate beingremoved to show the construction; and Fig. 3 is an edge view.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the handle portion of the spokegrip or wrench, which is provided at one end with a circular head A, inwhich is formed a circular opening adapted to receive a wrench-head B,and the handle A is provided at one side with a longitudinal raisedportion a. A cover-plate A similar in form to the handle A and formingpart thereof, is secured to the raised portion a of said handle byscrews or bolts or in any desired manner, and the said cover-plate isprovided at one end with a circular head, similar in form to the head Aof the handle A. Between the head of the cover-plate and the head A ofthe handle A is an open space, which is filled by the wrench-head B, andthe cover-plate A forms part of the handle, and the head of thecover-plate, together with the head A of the part A of the handle, formsthe head of the handle.

The wrench-head B is provided with a flange 13 around the perimeterthereof, which is of less thickness than the head of which it forms apart, and said flange is provided with ratchet-teeth b.

By reason of the above-described construction the wrench-head B fillsthe circular opening in the head of the handle, and the flange B, whichis provided with ratchet-teeth b, is also inclosed by the separate partsof the circular head of the handle.

The circular head A of the wrench, of which the circular head of thecover-plate forms a part, is divided at its outer side, or on the sideopposite the handle, to form a slot or opening a, the edges of which arecurved, so as to prevent any obstacle to the application of the wrenchto a spoke. The wrench-head B is provided with a radial slot 13?, whichtapers slightly toward its inner end and terminates at a point near thecenter of the wren chhead or slightly beyond the same. The inner end ofthe slot B is formed of a width sufficient to bind tightly upon a spoke,while the wider outer portion of the slot facilitates the application ofthe wrench to the spoke, and in the normal position of said wrench-headthe slot B coincides with the opening a in the head of the handle.-

At a convenient point in the handle of the wrench adjacent to the headthereof is pivoted a pawl O, which is provided with a shoulder orprojection, through which the pivot-pin passes, and the said pawl andthe handle thereof are arranged beneath the cover-plate a of the handleand project slightly from the side of the handle in position to beconveniently operated. A suitable spring 0 is mounted in the handle andincloses the shoulder or projection of the pawl through which thepivot-pin passes, and one end thereof bears upon the body portion of thehandle and the other is secured to said shoulder or projection of thepawl, and said spring operates to throw the handle 0 of the pawl Goutwardly and to throw said pawl into engagement with the ratchet-teeth.

The wrench-head B is free to rotate within the head of the handle ineither direction when the pawl O is not in engagement therewith, andwhen the device is to be used to tighten a spoke the wrench head isturned in position to bring the slot B into alinement with the opening ain the head of the handle. The spoke is then caused to enter the slot 13the inner contracted edges of which tightly bind upon said spoke andprevent it from slipping. The wrench is then operated in the well-knownmanner of ratchet-wrenches until the spoke is sufficiently tightened,and the arrangement of the spokes renders it possible to give only avery limited swing or movement to the device or spoke-grip as the latteris operated, and as the spoke is turned while being tightened thewrench-head rotates with the same in the head of the handle, so that itis not necessary to release the wrench-head from the spoke at everymovement or turn of the wrench-head, and thus the mutilation of thespoke is prevented. Vhen the spoke is sufficiently tightened, the pawl Ois released from the ratchet-teeth and the wrench is pulled forciblyaway from the spoke, the wrench-head B revolving in the head of thehandle until the slot 13 comes into alinement with the opening a in thehead of the handle, when the spoke will slip out of the wrenchhead.

The construction and arrangement of the parts above described permitsthe wrench to be used in a space so restricted that the handle can swingonly through the space occupied by one ratchet-tooth at a time.

My improved wrench or spoke-grip is simple in construction and operationand well adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, andit will be apparent that changes in and modifications of theconstruction described may be made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A spoke-grip comprising a handle having a circularhead said head being composed of two similar circular parts in each ofwhich is formed a circular opening, said circular parts of the headbeing open at the side opposite the handle and acircular wrench-headmounted in the circular opening in the head of the handle and providedwith an annular flange having ratchet-teeth said handle being alsoprovided with a longitudinal opening in which is pivoted aspring-operated pawl which is adapted to engage the said ratchet-teethsaid pawl being provided with a longitudinallyprojecting handle and saidwrench-head being provided with a radial slot or opening, substantiallyas shown and described.

2. A spoke grip 0r wrench comprising a handle having a circular headsaid handle and said head being composed of two separate parts boltedtogether and said handle being provided with a longitudinal slot oropening and said head being provided with a circular central opening inwhich is mounted a circular wrench-head having an annular flangeprovided with ratchet-teeth a spring-operated pawl pivoted in the handleand adapted to operate in connection with said ratchet-teeth said pawlbeing also provided with a handle said ratchet-head being also providedwith a radial slot or opening and the head of the handle in which thewrench-head is mounted being also provided at the side opposite thehandle with a transverse slot or opening, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 17th day ofFebruary, 1898.

WALTER FRANK KRAIIE.

\Vitnesses:

L. M. MULLER, M. A. KNOWLES.

